Tool.



C. L. BELL.

TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l. 1914.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

CoLuMBlA PLANcuR/PM co.. WASHINGTON, DA c.

UNT@ Tb @ENT @FTQE CLINTON L. BELL, OF PALMYRA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD TO OSCAR Z. COUTANT, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, AND ONE-THIRD 'IO CHARLES R. VAN

WINKLE, OF PALIVIYRA, ILLINOIS.

TOOL.

1,158,4t3fb.

Application filed `June 1 1914.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, CLINTON L. BELL, citizen of the United States, residing at Palmyra, in the county of Macoupin and State of Tllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tools, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in tools and relates particularly to a hand tool for arm use, especially in the erection of wire fences, stringing plain and barb wire and for similar uses.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive and eiiicient tool for the use in driving of staples when erecting plain or barb wire fences and includes a member' having means whereby a line wire or cable may be positioned andV held against a post or other part to which it is desired to attach the wire by means of a suitable staple, said member being so constructed and arranged as to receive and guide the staple to its proper securing position, and means within the member adapted to be operated upon by a tool in the hand of an operator for driving said staple.

A further object is the provision of such a device having means adapted to lock the plunger in its various projected positions, said means also serving` as a staple holding` means prior to the initial driving movement of the plunger.

Further objects include the provision of devices of this character, whereby a simple, etlicient and cheap tool is constructed, which is strong and durable and convenient to handle.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and then sought to be defined in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and 'which show merely for the purpose of illustrative disclosure, a preferred embodiment of my invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in practice within the scope of the claims, without digressing from my inventive idea.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a view in perspective of a device constructed according to my invention, illustrated in the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov.. 2, 1915.

serial No. 841,972'.

act of applying a staple to a fence; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the tool, and Fig. 3 is a front end view thereof; Fig. i is an elevation at right angles to Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 2, the device being shown with a staple in position prior to the initial driving movement, and Fig. 6 is a similar view, the staple being shown partially driven.

This invention relates to that class of devices as shown in' Patent No. 1,089,112, issued to Oscar Z. Contant, the third day of March, 1914, and is an improvement thereon.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the barrel which also serves as the handle of the tool, this barrel being' substantially tubular in cross-section for the greater portion of its length, and having the screw threaded end cap 2. The forward end of this barrel is bifnrcated as indicated at 3 so as to adapt it to straddle a wire or cable to permit the proper application of the staple. This end of the body is squared as at t to receive the hammer head 5. as shown.

Mounted to reciprocate within the tubular handle is the plunger 6, having the head 7 and the driving end 8. This plunger is nor- `shown in Fig. 5 by means ofthe spring 9 which is positioned thereabout, said spring engaging at one rend the internal flange 10 of the body portion, and at the other end the washer or similar member l1 which bears against the lugs or projections 12 provided on the plunger member. The forward end 8 of the plunger is adapted to engage a staple to drive the same.

In order to permit the device to operate properly to complete the application of the staple, I provide a tool and ratchet connection whereby the plunger will be locked in its partially projected position to each blow and held there until the next blow or until released by the operator. This connection is provided by means of the catch or lever 13 which is pivotally mounted as at 14, to the body portion of the device, having the hand engaging portion 15 which terminates in the lug or projection 16, which lug or projection is positioned approximate the recess 17 in ythe body portion, the spring 18 bearing ver in engagement with the ratchet teeth 20, which are provided on the forward portion of said plunger, as shown. |This catch or lever 13 is so constructed and arranged relative to the plunger, that. when in a normal Vposition of the plunger the end 19 of the catch or lever 13 will engage and fit over the loop of the staple 21, as indicated in Fig. 5, thereby holding the staple in position after its insertion in the end of the body portion, thereby providing means whereby it may be properly positioned for driving.

The operation of this device is evident from a consideration of this description, together with the drawing, and includes the positioning of the staple in the forward end of the tool with its loop in engagement with the driving end of the plunger, the catch or lever 13 being` depressed by the hand of the operator, suliiciently so as to lift the en gaging end 19 of said catch or lever 13 to permit the passage of the loop of the staple thereunder. The tool is then positioned by the operator so that the staple is positioned astride the wire which is to be secured and a hammer or similar tool is used to drive the plunger forward, thereby driving the staple into the post, it being understood that the catch or lever 13 engaging the ratchet teeth 20, provides an automatic means for locking the plunger in its various partially projected positions. On a completionr of the driving action, the operator depresses the catch or lever 13 by pressure on the portion 15 thereof, thus releasing the plunger which is moved back to its normal position by means of the spring 9.

It is therefore evident that I have provided a new and improved tool whereby staples may be applied and driven with fajcility to secure a wire to a post or other member,`which device is simple and strong Y in construction, attractive in appearance and durable in use.

What l claim 1. ln a tool of the character described, a body member forming a hand-hold and being tubular for a greater portion of its length, a plunger mounted to slide therein, means for normally holding the plunger so that its forward end is within the forward end of' said body member, ratchet teeth on the forward end of said plunger, and a catch or lever pivotally mounted on said body member and having an end adapted to engage said ratchet 'teeth to hold said plunger in its various projected positions, said catch or lever being adapted to have its engaging end positioned over the forward end of said plunger to engage a staple prior to the initial driving operation of said plunger. j

2.' Inl a tool of the character described, a

body member forming a hand-hold and being tubular for a greater portion of its length, a plunger mounted to slide therein, means for normally holding the plunger so that its forward end is within the forward end of said body member, ratchet teeth on the forward end of said plunger, and a catch or lever pivotally mounted on said body member and having an end adapted to engage said ratchet teeth to hold said plunger in its various projected positions, said catch or lever being adapted to have its engaging end positioned over the forward end of said plunger to engage a staple prior to the initial driving operation of said plunger, and means for ca using the catch or lever to normally engage said ratchet teeth on said plunger.

3. ln a tool of the character described, a member forming a hand-hold and being tubular for a greater portion of its length and having its forward end bifurcated so as to straddle a wire, a plunger mounted to move within said body member, means for normally holding said plunger with its forward end within the forward. end of said body member, ratchet teeth on said plunger, and a catch or lever pivotally mounted on said body member and having its engaging end adapted to project over the forward end of said plunger-so as to engage a. staple Awhen said plunger is in its retracted position, said engaging end of said catch or lever being adapted to engage said ratchet teeth on said plunger so as to lock the same in its various projected positions.

4. ln a tool of the character described, a member forming a hand-hold and being tubular for a greater portion of its length and having its forward end bifurcated so as to straddle a wire, a plunger mounted to move within said body member, means for normally holding said plunger with its forward end within .the forward end of said body member, ratchet teeth on said plunger, a catch or lever pivotally mounted on said body member and having its engaging end adapted to project over the forward end of said plunger so as to engage a staple when said plunger is in its retracted posit-ion, said engaging end of said catch or lever being adapted to engage said ratchet teeth on said plunger so as to lock the same in its various projected positions, and resilient means for normally holding said catch or lever in its engaging position.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CLINTON L. BELL. Witnesses Grenen T. lnAN, J. M. ANDnnsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

